Amanda Gorman, the Los Angeles poet who gained national recognition for her performance at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, is set to present a new poem at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Wednesday.
The poem, titled “This Sacred Scene,” will be performed in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, as reported by Vanity Fair. Gorman explained that the poem evolved after Biden decided to withdraw from the race for reelection and endorsed Harris as the Democratic candidate. She noted that the focus shifted from celebrating an incumbent to fostering hope for future possibilities, particularly regarding the prospect of a Black-Indian woman serving as president.
Day 3 of the DNC, taking place in Chicago, will feature speeches from notable figures, including former President Bill Clinton and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Additionally, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is set to receive the Democratic vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday evening.
Gorman’s poem will be recited at 6:45 p.m. PDT at The United Center in Chicago. Viewers interested in watching her and other DNC speakers can access the official livestream at DemConvention.com, along with various social media platforms and streaming services like YouTube, X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitch. The DNC will also be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Roku TV, and Fire TV, with select coverage on Peacock (NBC) and Max (CNN).
USA TODAY will offer livestream coverage on YouTube each night of the DNC, running from Monday through Thursday.
Amanda Gorman made history as the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017 and went on to be the youngest inaugural poet in American history during Biden’s inauguration, where she recited “The Hill We Climb.” She is also a published author with a New York Times bestselling poetry collection, “Call Us What We Carry,” released in 2021.
At 26 years old, Gorman was born and raised in Los Angeles to a schoolteacher. She was the city’s first Youth Poet Laureate in 2014 and started writing at a young age to cope with a speech impediment. Gorman became involved with WriteGirl, a nonprofit that empowers teenage girls through creative writing, at the age of 14. She has reflected on her experiences growing up in Southern California, highlighting her journey through various poetry workshops and her responses to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.